“Nothing shall be impossible.”
Hi friends,
Whitney here (Mel’s oldest daughter—the photo above is from January, when I was visiting at the beginning of Mom’s cancer journey). Mom asked if I would share a quick update on the blog today as she recovers from surgery, and I am honored to do so.
First, the most important news: the surgery went very well. Praise God! After six long hours in the operating room, Dad and I were able to meet with Mom’s oncologist who described the surgery as “outstanding” and exactly what he hoped to accomplish. He shared that they removed two tumors and also a couple places where the cancer had spread. He was able to remove every trace of cancer from her body. The next few days in the hospital will be important as doctors help her manage her pain and ensure there are no complications.
When Mom first began to wake up from anesthesia, her first response wasn’t fear or confusion. It was gratitude. She whispered, “I’m here. I’m alive!”
I’m not sure it had fully settled into her heart beforehand just how serious this surgery was. But as the weight of what she had just endured began to dawn on her, she was so grateful. And so are we.
One small detail from the hospital has stayed with me these past couple of days. In the hallway downstairs, there’s an inscription on the wall from Luke 1:37: “Nothing shall be impossible.”
That verse comes from the moment when the angel Gabriel appears to Mary and tells her that she will bear the Son of God. Mary is young, confused, and understandably overwhelmed. She asks the obvious question: How can this be? The angel’s answer is straightforward but staggering: “For nothing will be impossible with God.”
It’s a promise spoken right in the middle of what seems humanly impossible. A virgin would conceive a child. The long-awaited Savior would come. God would step into our broken world in a way no one could have expected.
Throughout Scripture, God asks His people a similar question again and again. When Sarah laughed at the idea that she would bear a son in her old age, the Lord responded, Is anything too hard for the Lord? The answer was no then, and it’s still no today.
That doesn’t mean life is easy or that every story unfolds the way we hope. But it does mean that the God who holds the stars in place is the same God who holds Mom in His hands. We don’t know every page ahead in the story, but we do know (and trust) the Author. And we know this: God is faithful. Nothing is too hard for Him. And He isn’t finished with Mom yet.
Mom will be in the hospital for three or four nights before going home to continue recovering. She won’t likely be able to respond to many comments while she heals, but please know that if you leave a message here, I would be happy to read it to her.
Thank you, friends, for praying. Thank you for loving our family so well. We have felt carried by your prayers and support.
– Whitney
31 Comments
Teresa Zellers
PTL! Thankful for answered prayers. Continuing to pray for a speedy recovery. 🙏🏻💕 Thanks, Whitney, for the update. Tell your mom she should have a care package waiting on her when she gets home. 💕
Becky Wallace
Tell your sweet Mama- JERICHO HAS FALLEN!!
Love to you all. 💕💕💕
The Crowders
Praise the Lord!! Praying for a quick and complete recovery.
Patty Bowman Kingsley🇨🇦
Thanks be to God!
May the Lord, maker of heaven and earth, continue to lead you forward into fullness and healing.
Patty
Caryn Collier
I’m so grateful for this successful surgery!! Praise God. Thank you for this update! Continuing in prayer…
Vickie Riley
Oh we are So thankful for such a wonderful outcome. We are keeping you in prayer for complete healing and a rapid recovery. You are brave and beautiful.
Roman’s 15:13
Linda Wright
I’m so thankful the surgery went well and the results are amazing! Prayers for healing and recovery.
Greg Golden
This is exactly the news that we’ve prayed we’d read.
A 20-year old young man in my church is two years into his battle with brain cancer. This morning, I listened to and sent to Ben the CeCe Winans’ recording of “The Goodness of God.” Those anointed lyrics remind us that God has “…LED us through the fire…” Notice the emphasis. We know that God was there at every step through every hour, holding Melody’s hand and providing every need.
What an incredible Savior we serve!!
Charmaine Huey
Praise God for this report. Praying for you Mel. Thanks for reminding me of this verse being there as it meant a lot to me and my husband when we were on a similar journey several years ago. It can mean different things on different days to different people but to me it is a reminder of his grace and mercy in our lives even when we don’t realize it-Especially in the trials. May God’s healing hands and love continue to lead you.
Becky Eaker
Thank you, Whitney for the update. So glad to hear surgery went so well. Your mom is a trooper and she serves a God who is ABLE! THANK YOU, JESUS, with you nothing is impossible.
Love you all.
Judy Flatt
What wonderful news and a beautiful picture of you all! Praise God for His faithfulness! Yes, there is nothing impossible for God. He is our refuge and strength. That was a long surgery but the results were tremendously encouraging! Thank you for sharing with us Whitney! God bless!!
Kathy Smith
Heavenly Father, we lift our hearts in gratitude to You. Thank You for guiding the surgeon’s hands and for the successful outcome of this procedure. We trust in your continued healing and restoration for Melodie!
He will hold you fast,
Steve and Kathy Smith
Marie Guthrie
Mel, you continue to be on my heart. The faith you and your family share is powerful. I’m so grateful the surgery was a success and a major step toward healing. Jesus was clearly with your medical team. He is always with you in your joys and sorrows. I pray you will rest well and have many sweet dreams as your body heals. Be encouraged that because our bodies our wounded – our spirits don’t need to be. Our spirits get stronger the more and more we turn to God. Sending love and care. 💞🕊️Marie
Brian Ware
Thank you for the update Whitney.
I’m from the FL branch of the Ware family.
My Dad was born in Waycross, GA.
My genealogy research so far has shown
there are Ware families in a lot of States in
the U. S., so we’re distant cousins.
We are praising God for His wonderful mercy to
your sweet family.
Your Mom’s journey blog is a blessing to
our family.
Cathy Becker
God is so good and we rejoice with you! He does do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or even imagine! Praise The Lord!❤️🙏❤️
Nancy Anders
PRAISE PRAISE PRAISE Jesus for the good news today🙌🙌🙌❤️✝️ it’s so wonderful that she is surrounded by family and friends that love her and trust God! My heart is so happy to hear the great report. Prayers will continue as she recovers from this surgery and takes the next steps. Pls give her and your dad our love and that we have happy tears that the surgery is over and all was successful. May her recovery be easy, I have had that surgery without tumors and cancer and I know it takes a minute to recover under those circumstances. Prayers that you all feel a calm assurance of God’s touch…Ps139:5
God hears🙌
Sending much love~💕
Nanette Rasberry
I KNOW Whose hands removed every trace of that cancer!!!! I am so very thankful!! Praying for excellent pain management these next few days❤️
Jan Hayes
Praising God for his mercy and grace
May he give you both physical and spiritual REST and a very speedy healing and recovery in the coming days
My sweet friend I love you and am so grateful for our friendship and the testimony of your faith you so graciously share
Deborah A. Klassen
Psalm 116
I’m Saved
I am passionately in love with God because he listens to me.
He hears my prayers and answers them.
As long as I live I’ll keep praying to him,
for he stoops down to listen to my heart’s cry.
Death once stared me in the face,
and I was close to slipping into its dark shadows.
I was terrified and overcome with sorrow.
I cried out to the Lord, “God, come and save me!”
He was so kind, so gracious to me.
Because of his passion toward me,
he made everything right and he restored me.
So I’ve learned from my experience
that God protects the vulnerable.
For I was broken and brought low,
but he answered me and came to my rescue!
Now I can say to myself and to all,
“Relax and rest, be confident and serene,
for the Lord rewards fully those who simply trust in him.”
God has rescued my soul from death’s fear
and dried my eyes of many tears.
He’s kept my feet firmly on his path
and strengthened me so that I may please him
and walk before Yahweh in his fields of life.
Even when it seems I’m surrounded
by many liars and my own fears,
and though I’m hurting in my suffering and trauma,
I still stay faithful to God and speak words of faith.
So now, what can I ever give back to God
to repay him for the blessings he’s poured out on me?
I will lift up his cup of salvation and praise him extravagantly
for all that he’s done for me.
I will fulfill the promise I made to God
in the presence of his gathered people.
When one of God’s holy lovers dies,
it is costly to the Lord, touching his heart.
Lord, because I am your loving servant,
you have broken open my life and freed me from my chains.
Now I’ll worship you passionately and bring to you
my sacrifice of praise, drenched with thanksgiving!
I’ll keep my promise to you, God,
in the presence of your gathered people, just like I said I would.
I will worship you here in your living presence,
in the temple in Jerusalem.
I will worship and sing hallelujah, for I praise you, Lord!
Outstanding!!!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Deborah
Kristy Barbara
I want to saying I am praying for your recovery.
Thank you for your encouragement through the time you and Dick where at first family church.
God is with ALL of us. My mom went to be with Jesus when we weren’t ready for her to go. God has better plans. I pray that you have more yrs with your family. Love in Christ, Kristy Barbara(Malone)
Mark S Craig
As we continue to pray each day for Mel and Dick, I have already thanked God for a successful surgery. We continue to seek his hand of protection on Mel
Mark
Evie Karlsson
Marvelous report! Thanks for the clear update, Whitney. All Clear– in Jesus’ name. Pelle and I will keep praying for all the recovery and healing to come. Through it all– we learn to trust in Jesus and depend upon His word. Love, prayers and gentle hugs!
Raja O’Brien
Sweet Whitney… thank you for this update. We are praising God for such an incredible outcome And now praying for a complete and speeding recovery! 💗🙏
Cristy Ludwig
“He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” Psalms 91:4
Praying for you and your family every day. 💛
Pete Tackett
Oh, Dick and Mel, how thankful we are. I have been listening to your music and each time it reminds me to pray.
Laurie Jeron
Thank you Whitney for the update. I am rejoicing and praising the Lord. How beautiful that Luke 1:37 is in the hospital. Truly a blessing to see that reminder and encouragement that God is here and in control. I was just reading in Jeremiah 32 today. Verse 27 says, “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for me?
Not in the least. He has brought Mom through and he will continue to do that. Praying for an accelerated healing to come and I know she is in good hands with the Lord and all of you who love her so much. May He give extra strength and grace. Pleading the blood and believing and thanking Him for this great report and many more that will come in the days ahead.
Beth (Wilson) Simonds
Wahoo! I love watching God’s sovereignty in full force. It has been my privilege to pray for you, Dick and the girls. Physical recovery is never fun, but it’s a time when God finds a way to teach us so many lessons. It’s also a time when He puts different people in our life who need the understanding and wisdom you now have because of this journey. God’s grace to you my beautiful friend.
Pamela Johnston
Thank you so much Whitney.
How special for you to be there for both your Mom and Dad!!!
Blessings to you all!!!
What a beautiful birthday day gift for me that the surgery was excellent!!! Thanks be to God!!!
Continued prayers!!!!
Patrick C Keller
Oh Whitney, what a wonderful piece of news to read and take in about your Mom! Please give her a big hug from me and I pray her recovery improves every day. God bless her and your entire family for the continued strength that will be needed. But your Mom is strong and fierce, she’s got this!! God is good.
Anna Joyner
PTL!! Zak and I are so thankful and relieved to hear this news. We will continue praying and believing the Lord to heal and sustain all of you during this time. Thank you for the update!
Ellis Richman
Hello Mel! I’m a friend of Keren Cummings. I want to share about my son’s godmother MaryBeth. A few years ago, she went through the same surgery. After recovery, and I’m not kidding here, she set off on a journey to scale the seven highest peaks in the world. And she did it! Including Mount Everest. Just wanted to share: The Lord allows us to accomplish amazing things after adversity. Jehovah Rapha bless you and your healing!
-Ellis Richman